I spent almost three weeks travelling Israel completely independently with nothing but a 7.5kg backpack. I didn’t take a single organised tour, and did everything independently, travelling between cities by public bus and train and around cities by bus, light rail and by foot. I even tried my first attempt at hitchhiking.
Now travelling independently in Israel isn’t for everyone- I did spend a lot of time completely alone, which I’m fine with, and this ended up being one of the things I really appreciated from this trip as I had a lot of thinking time. Keep in mind that if you’re a social butterfly or haven’t travelled alone before you may find the lack of company difficult and therefore may want to do tours which can be arranged through your hostel- Abraham Hostel offers some of the best known, reputable and fair priced tours in the region.
Is Israel easy to travel solo?
Israel is extremely easy to travel around. The buses are easy to use as are the trains, and all main destinations are well connected by public transport.
Is it easy to meet other travellers when backpacking Israel?
Stay in hostels where you will meet other travellers, however expect the mix to be quite different to most countries. For example, the age ratio. In Israel even in the hostels (hotels are incredibly expensive and so many stay in hostels), there’s a high proportion of older travellers- people in their fifties, sixties and seventies and above. For example in Jerusalem there was a Dutch grandmother staying in my dorm who used to be a travel guide in Jerusalem and had returned with her grandsons.
In Jerusalem Abraham Hostel held a Shabbat dinner for its guests on Friday evening. I was seated with a Dutch Jewish family on one side, a German in his thirties opposite who was taking a sabbatical from work, a guy in his twenties from Hong Kong and the grandson of the Dutch grandmother to my right. It’s really nice to have all ages mixing which isn’t the norm in most hostels.
In Israeli hostels there’s a lack of independent travellers in comparison to most places. Most people I met were either:
Americans who had just finished their birthright trips and were travelling or working after. Most were doing this in groups.
Religious travellers. A lot came to see specific religious sites, for example I met a lot of Christians on Jesus trails.
Those coming alone or in pairs or groups, but then joining tours within Israel for example those run by the Abraham Hostel.
Do you have any tips for travelling Israel independently as a solo female?
My main tips are:
Download the maps.me app. This was so useful for example when I was in a city and needed to find my hostel or wondering where to get off the bus.
Ask people in the hostels – other travellers and the people working there any questions. They are the real guidebooks.
Plan your travels with Shabbat in mind. On Shabbat (between sunset Friday to sunset Saturday) public transport is very limited to non existent. Plan your time accordingly.
Some solo travellers say to walk with headphones in so people won’t bother you. Personally I don’t agree. I think this makes you a target for street robbers and it makes you less aware of your surroundings. Always be aware of your surroundings and trust your gut instinct. It’s there for a reason.
Don’t get so drunk you can’t walk. Again just be aware. Make sure you know what your hostel or hotel or Air B&Bs address is. Even if your phone runs out of battery- don’t solely rely on your phone. Take a card from your hotel/Hostel and keep it in your purse.
Watch your budget carefully. Money really doesn’t go far in this country. A dorm room is likely to set you back 100 shekels a night or more. I didn’t even look into the cost of a private room.
Tips on travelling Israel on a budget:
- Use the public transport as much as possible or walk.
- Eat at falafel stands, the falafel wraps in Israel are so good- cooked fresh to order with salad, hummus, pickles and homemade chips included yum.
- Spend most of your time out of Tel Aviv- this is the most expensive city in Israel.
- Cook for yourself, stay in hostels with a shared kitchen and choose hostels with breakfast included so you can fill up.
What to wear as a solo female travelling to Israel?
Dress conservatively in Jerusalem. E.g. wear a long sleeved loose top and loose trousers or long skirt so as not to offend and also so you won’t have any trouble getting in any religious sites.
In Tel Aviv if you’re planning on visiting the beach then swimwear is fine on the beach. Here pretty much anything goes at the beach. People walk around in shorts, vest top etc.
Around the city e.g. Rothschild Avenue you might want to feel a bit more stylish. The locals tend to wear a lot of black and neutrals and have a knack for looking effortlessly stylish in an understated way like the French.
What to pack in Israel:
Hand sanitiser- surprisingly most public and restaurant bathrooms didn’t have any working soap dispensers. Plus often you’ll be out and about when eating with hands e.g. falafel wraps on the go.
Comfortable walking sandals and/or shoes and flip flops for the beach.
Suncream and sunglasses.
Loose cotton clothing, e.g. harem trousers and cotton long sleeved shirts and t-shirts
Earplugs to block out the noisy snorers
Did you feel safe as a female traveller in Israel?
Yes. I really did. I didn’t have any issues for example with local men. People aren’t as curious as in other countries I’ve visited- they tend to just leave you alone. It’s normal for women to be out and about alone e.g. drinking coffee in a cafe so you won’t face any trouble or feel like you stand out like a sore thumb. I had no problems whatsoever, other than my flight incident read about that here.
Be aware that on most trains and buses and in most cities you’re likely to see a lot of IDF young soldiers carrying huge guns. At first this was a big shock to me and made me feel uneasy particularly travelling by bus on a Sunday when the buses are packed with IDF soldiers returning to their bases after the weekend.
Is it easy to meet Israelis as a traveller?
I can’t say I found it easy, the locals definitely aren’t as open as many countries particularly in Jerusalem- people tend to just leave you alone (apart from the street hawkers). However, most people working in hostels are locals (unlike most countries where it tends to be travellers volunteering), and they can be your best source of information and gateway into local life. I had some very interesting conversations with an Israeli in Akko where I learned a lot about the conflict between the liberal Israelis and the Orthodox.
Israelis love travelling- after their military service it is the norm for them to take time out to travel. Their favourite destinations are India and South America and so you can find common ground that way.
Where do you recommend visiting in Israel?
I will create an itinerary in a seperate post, but my key Israel highlights were:
- Jerusalem for a unique experience see my highlights here.
- The graffitied wall in the West Bank see my photos here
- Mitzpe Ramon for hiking and contemplation. Read about my first hitchhiking experience here
- Akko for its friendly chilled vibes, check out my thoughts here
- Golan Heights – just a few km from an active war zone read about my few days in The Golan here
Where to skip time:
So okay Tel Aviv was cool for a few days, but it wasn’t particularly unique. I live in Dubai- an expensive beach city and didn’t really want to spend all my holiday time in another. However, a lot of people love it and spend most of their time here and do tours and day trips using Tel Aviv as their base so it depends what you’re after. Tel Aviv is also the easiest place to meet other backpackers and travellers and a good place to start your trip.
That’s it for my guide to Israel as a solo female backpacker. I will add when I think of anymore tips.
Have you travelled to Israel? How was your experience?
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